Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes treated with chemotherapy. The spleen produces lymphocytes and removes old cells and waste. There are four main types of lymphoma affecting the spleen, including follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, anemia, and enlarged lymph nodes. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radioimmunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer involving lymphocytes — cells of the immune system that exist in the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow — that is usually treated with chemotherapy. Healthy lymphocytes destroy infectious organisms and abnormal cells. A malignant lymphocyte originates in the lymph nodes, forming a tumor deposit that appears as an enlarged node. The spleen plays an important role in the immune system by producing lymphocytes; removal of old and damaged red blood cells, bacteria and cellular waste; iron recycling; and store a blood supply. There are four main types of lymphoma of the spleen: follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
Follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of lymphoma of the spleen that affects B lymphocytes, accounts for 30% of all lymphoma cases. This type of cancer is usually detected between the ages of 60 and 65. Common symptoms described by follicular lymphoma patients include fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite and enlarged lymph nodes, as well as abdominal discomfort or fullness, caused by an enlarged spleen or liver. Less common symptoms, referred to as B symptoms, include night sweats, high temperatures, and weight loss. Standard treatment includes monitoring the disease until it starts to progress, chemotherapy, a drug called rituximab, radioimmunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rapidly growing lymphoma of the spleen affecting B lymphocytes and accounts for about 6% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It affects four times as many men as the number of women, and the median age at diagnosis of MCL is 58. The common symptoms are similar to those experienced by patients with follicular lymphoma. Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment because the drugs are able to reach all parts of the body through the blood. Localized treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy have limited therapeutic roles.
Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is a rare type of splenic lymphoma that can also be found in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Patients are typically elderly men. Common physical ailments include fatigue and abdominal discomfort caused by an enlarged spleen. This type of cancer is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis C. A splenectomy is usually performed on patients with this type of lymphoma of the spleen, as is follow-up chemotherapy.
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is a rare, slowly progressing type of lymphoma of the spleen that affects about 1 to 2% of all lymphomas. Affected cells are typically found in the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. This type of splenic lymphoma causes the liquid part of the blood to thicken, leading to decreased blood flow to many organs.
The specific symptoms that patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma experience depend on which organs are affected by a decrease in blood supply. Symptoms can include vision problems due to poor circulation to the blood vessels at the back of the eyes, as well as headaches, dizziness, and confusion due to poor circulation in the brain. Fatigue and weakness are other common symptoms, as is a tendency to bleed and bruise easily. Common treatments include splenectomy, chemotherapy, and plasma exchange, also called plasmapheresis.
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